Wire-bending machine



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' G. IFUMAGALLR E? AL.

WIRE [SENDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN Ell/TOR61000010 (/mga/k Pea/a ('a aarle.

y (arm/x1e. 501 Vac MAMA G. FUMAGALLI ET? AL WIRE BENDING MACHINE Aug.M. 1923.

Filed Nov 2, 1.921 5 Shams-Sheet 2 Gmcomo/Dmaga/lz Fc'za/o Cardone yCarmmc Ju'rica M, Ma. HAMEM G. FUMAGALL! ET Mk WIRE BENDING M CHINEFiled Nov. 2, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEIV TOR 51a coma fbma'yzzl/lFan/a ('ardaoel y [arm/m2 jar/ca W 14a Arm/may.

Patented Aug. i l, l23

mates siren stares earner easier.

GIACOMO FUMAGALLI, PAOLO CARDONE, AND GARMINE SUBTCO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WIRE-EENDING IMACHINE.

Application filed November 2,1921. Serial No. 512,179.

matically controlled clutch releasing mech anism. and an adjustablemounting for a wire bending mandrel, all of which 1111- provements aresubstantially co-related to the. machine proper.

The invention is especially applicable to such wire bending machines asare used to bend spring wire into strips or lengths of helical form tobe used in the manufacture of bed springs.

The machines of this character, as they are now constructed, generallyfeed a continuous length of wire through the mandrel in which it is bentto proper form andthen by a manual operation a clutch is thrown out tobring the machine to rest, and thereafter the bent wire is cut todesired lengths. The operators encounter considerable dif ficulty inmeasuring the lengths of bent wire for cutting, either while the wire isleaving the mandrel or after the machine has been brought to rest. Thisis due partly to the resilient nature of the strand after having beenbent. It is therefore, the objectof this invention to provide clutchoperating means cooperating with the movable parts of the device wherebya predetermined length of bent wire may be projected from the mandrelwhereupon the clutch operating means is actuated to bring the machine torest. The bent wire may then be cutand a subsequent strip of the samelength fed forward.

Owing to the general arrangement of parts of existing machines andparticularly the feeding mechanism for the wire, it is the usual rule toregrmd the feeding wheels afterthey havebecome worn and in doing thisthe diameters are necessarily reduced after which the wheels must bereset so that the peripheries contact with each other. It

has then been found that with the level of the oint of contact of thetwo wheels chan ed the receiving end of the mandrel is off cen ter, i.e., the axis of the latter is above this contacting point, in which casethe wire does not feed properly. It is, then, a further object of theinvention to provide an adjustagble supporting means for said mandrelwhereby the latter may be moved relatively with respect to the feedingwheels so that the axis of the mandrel itself may be set to extendoutwardly on a plane level with the point of contact of the two feedingwheels and at substantially right angles thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention and novel featuresofconstruction will be pointed out in the specification and set forth inthe appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the wire bending machineembodying the im= proved clutch releasing mechanism, showing the partsin engaged position.

Fig. 2 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view looking from therear of the ma chine and showing the eccentric supporting means for themandrel.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view with parts broken away to show theeccentric bushing for the mandrel.

Fig. 4t is an elevational view of one end of the eccentric collarsupporting the spindle of the wire bending mandrel.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes a substantially U shaped framesupporting the Operative parts of the machine and having upstandingparallel standards 11 and 12 provided with divided upper end portions.These divided portions comprise open ended slots 13 adapted to receivesuitable bearing blocks 1-1- which are capable of vertical adjustment insaid slots. Mounted in the bearing blocks l-l and extending axially ofthe frame 10 1s a shaft 15, the outer end of which, extending beyond thestandard 11,

17 andis in mesliwith a similar spur gear 19 carried by a drive shaft 20extending paral lel to and below the shaft 15. Due to the distancebetween the centers of the twoshafts and being substantially greaterthan the combined diameters of the gears 16 and 19 thetecth of thelatter are loosely engaged so that the feeding wheels may receiveconsiderable wear and the shaft 15 7 moved towards the shaft 20 asubstantial distance before it will be necessary togrind the gearsthemselves. In order to provide additional adjustment of these gears 16and slotted'opening 13 and secured at its opposite ends by means ofbolts to the standard. An adpistable screw 24 is mounted intermediatethe lengt-hof the bridge portion and 25 resting above the engages with aplate rubber member 21. as the screw 24 is moved" against the plate 25the latter will tend tojcompact the rubber block'21 between the bearingblock 14 and the plate itself so that any irregular ities in the"adjustment of the two shafts 15 and 20 will be taken care of by the moreor less resilient nature of the rubber. Asimilar cap 22 is usedfor theother standard 12 and instead of the rubber block 21 a rigid metal block26 is carried between the adjustable screw 24 and the bearing block 14.Referring to the drive shaft 20 it will be noted' that on the endopposite to the gear 19 is a sccondfeeding wheel '27 havingasquare'opening therein to receive the squared end of this shaft. Athreaded opening similar tothat in theother shaft is provided in the endof the drive shaft 20 and receives the threaded stem of a bolt 28, thehead of the latter adapted to bear against the face of the wheel 27. Theintermediate portion of the drive shaft 20 is provided with a continuousthread cut at a very slight pitch and extending from the inner sideoiiithe standard 12 to the opposite face of the standard 11. Theprojected portion of this shaft 20 beyond the gear 19. carries the,

drive pulley 29 and 'clutch dnerribers '30. The pulley 29' is loose onthe shaft and is held-against lateralmovement in one direction by awasher 31 forming a flange at the'end of the drive shaft 20, the formerbeing secured in position by a bolt the stern of which extends into theend of the shaft' Splined to the shaft 20 intermediate the hub of thegear 19 and the opposite end of the pulley hub'is the clutch member 30having axial and rotary movement of the shaft and provided 'with clutchteeth 34 and an annular groove 35. The teeth of this clutch member30 areadapted to move into engagement With oppositely disposed Itwill be notedthat teeth 36 projecting from the hub portion of the pulley 29. Power istransmitted to the shaft 20 through the engagement of the clutch teeth84 with those of the continuously rotating pulley 29.

The clutch operating mechanism, which will now be described, comprlsesan upright yoke 37 held between the opposite walls of the annular grooveand carried by a shaft 38 which extends substantially parallel to thedrive shaft 20 and which is movable axially thereof in suitable bearingsin the standards ll and 12. In order to normally hold thefclutch members30 out of engagement with each other a coiled spring 39 is coiled aboutthe shaft 38 so that one of its ends is seated against the inner side ofthe standard 11 and the other of-its ends is seated against a collar 40fixed to the shaft 38. A pair of care wheels 41, carried.

by the shaft 38 andspaced apart froin'one another a substantial distanceare; adapted to move against a pair of pins 42 which are.

suspended in'the path of movement of the two cam wheels 41. These pins42 have'cone shaped contact lower ends adapted to receive the bevelededge of the camiwheels 41' and are provided.withthreaded upper stemportions adjustably mounted in a longitudinal 'bar43. 'This bar issubstantially the length of the space between the two stand,

ards 11 and 12 and is supported in slotted brackets 44 secured to theoppositefaces of the standards. The bar 43 is also directly below theshaft 20 sov that any, vertical movement of the former willbe eitherto-' wards or away from the axis of the shaft itself. v Mounted onthisbar 43 and adapted to move axially thereof' is a carriage 44 havinga curved channel 45 provided with slightly pitched grooves adapted to Vmesh with the thread of the drive shaft 20. Proj ecting outwardly fromthe forward face of the carriage 44 is a lug 46 having a threadedopening therein to receive a threaded clutch,

releasingrod 47; This rod is; threaded throughout its entire length andcarries a lock nut 48 adapted to be adjusted about the rod and againstthe surface of the lug 46 so as to lock the rod in any desired posh tionwith relation to the carriage 44. The

opposite side'of the carriage 44 carries a bracket 49, shown in Figure2,to which one end of acable 50 is attached, the 'cable'bein'g supportedby an idler pulley 51' mounted on the standard 12 and the opposite endof the H cable beingprovided with a weight 52 depending therefrom andadapted to return the carriage 44 to its initialposition upon releaseof; the bar 43,"Ias hereinafter described. V j V The mechanism formoving the shaft 38 axially to set or release the carriage 44' throughthe operation of the pins 42 and bar 43 is shown in Figure 1, andcomprises a surface of the adjacent cam wheel 41. The

other or longer arm 58 of the bell crank projects outwardlysubstantially parallel with the shaft 38 and is provided with a beveledtoe portion at its outer end. In order to rock the bell crank 53 so. asto move the shaft 38 axially against the tension of the spring 39 acable 59 is secured at one end to the arm 58 and at the other end to afoot treadle (not shown). In locked nosition, as shown in Figure 1, thetoe of the arm 58 is engaged beneath a tooth 60 carried by a pivotedlever 61 mounted to move arcuately about a pin 62 projecting 0ut wardlyfrom the frame 10. The pivotal center of this lever is below the tooth60 and slightly offset from an upwardly projecting portion 63 of thelever which portion is located in the path of movement of the clutchreleasing rod 47, so that as the latter travels towards the lever 61 itwill reach a point in its travel where the two members will engage andthe lever 61 will be forced to swing about its pivot until the tooth 60has released the toe of the bell crank 53. The normal position of thelever 61, however, is the same whether the toe is engaged or not. Thisposition is mane possible by a spring actuated pin 61 projectingrearwardly from the projecting portion 63 of the lever 61 and beingsupported adjacent its outer end in a bracket mounted on and projectingfrom the edge of the standard 11. A coiled spring 66 surrounds the pin64c and its opposite ends enge with the opposite surfaces of the lever61 and bracket 65 respectively. It will be noted that with thisconstruction the normal tendency of the spring 66 will be to yieldablyforce the lever 61 towards the arm 58. If it'is desired to hold the pin64 in retracted position the underside of the latter is pro ided with anelongated flattened surface 67 having a shoulder 68 at the outer endadapted to be moved downwardly over the edge of the opening in thebracket 65.

In order to manipulatethe pin 64: the end projecting beyond the shoulder'68 is provided with ayknurled head 69.

The wire feeding and bending mechanism, shown particularly in Figures 2and 3, com D1lS8S.'fl1 wheels 17 and, 27 which rotate in oppositedirections and each of which is provided with a series of V shapedannular grooves 69 adapted to register with corresponding grooves in theother wheel. The bending device comprising a mandrel '70 of a well knowntype 1S supportedon a plane ter in relation to the head 71.

substantially level with the contacting point of the. two feeding wheels17 and 27 and in order to adjust the relative position of this mandrelthe latter is mounted in the head 71 of an adjustably supported post 72.The mandrel 70 extends transversely of the head 71 through which it isadjustable, both axially and rotatably and which carries a .set screw'73 adapted to engage the surface of the mandrel to fix the position ofthe lat- The post 72 is also axially and rotatably movable in the bore74 of an accentric bushing Z 5 which may be rotated to raise or lowerthe position of the post 72 and which includes a cylindrical portion 76and knurled flange 77. The cylindrical portion '76 projects through thebore 78 in a boss 79 projecting from the rearward side of the standard12 and having a set screw 80 adapted to engage the surface of theportion 76. The bushing itself is provided with a radially disposed cut81 extending from the inner periphery of the bore 74 to the outside ofthe member and from one end thereof to the other. It will be noted thatas the screw 80 is t ghtened against the cylindrical portion 76 the cut81 will permit the former to contract about the post 72, thereby rigidlysecuring the set positions of the bushing 75 and post '72 to thestandard 12.

lVire is guided to the feeding wheels 17' and 27 through a hollowspindle 82 supported in a post 83 mounted in a boss 8% of the standard12 and at the opposite side thereof from the bending de ice. The spindleis axially and rotatably adjustable in the post 88 and adapted .to beheld in adjusted position by means of a set screw 85 extending axiallyin the end of the post.

A second set screw 86 is mounted in the boss 84 and adapted to engagethe surface of the post 83 to fix the adjusted position of the latter.

A hand wheel 87 is-carried by the shaft 15 to enable the operator toturn the shafts when adjustment or setting of the parts may benecessary. 7

through the spindle 82 and between the feedin'g wheels 17 and 27 in thegrooves 69 and thereafter into the mandrel 70, the foot treadle is thendepressed pulling the arm 58 downwardly until the toe of the latter hastraveled over the tooth 60. In doing this the toe has rocked the lever61 rearwardly, or in a. direct on ,gway from, the toe itself. in orderto permitthe latter to pass the tooth 60 which is then returned to itsinitial. position by the tension of the spring 64. Simultaneously withthe setting of the r lever 61 the other arm of the bell crank 53 hasbeen rocked towards the standard ll-and against the rear surface of thecam wheel 11 to move the shaft 38 axially against the tension of thespring39, whereupon the twomembers of the clutch 30 will be brought intoengagement with each other. With the Z'HOVOlXlQlltOf the shaft 38, inthe direction just described, the cam wheels 41 will be moved againstthe pins l2 lifting them in an upwardly direction and ii'npartingacorrespondin l Y directed movement to the bar 13 and carriage 4A tobring the latter into contact with the threads ofthe shaft 2O.v

Inasmuch the engagement of the clutch members is substantiallysimultaneously ef feet-ed n th the engagement of the carriage 4.4 andthe threads of the shaft 20, the opera 'tion of the latter Willimmediately cause the carriage to travel over the bar 43 towards theopposite side of the mach ne.

The length of the strands of wire fed with each operation of the machineis determined by the setting of the clutch releasing rod 7 which may beadjusted in the b15346 to any predetermined distance between thecontacting end of the rod and the edge of'the cars of the shaft 20. 'Thereleasing of the toe of the arm 58 from beneath the tooth 60 will causethe bell crank 53 to swing backwards away from the standard 11 whereuponthe cam wheels 41 and shaft 38 Will follow undertension of the spring"39 and the clutch members 30 become d1sengag'ed. A downward movement ofthe bar 43 and carriage -14: as a subsequent step in the operation willdisengage the carriage from the shaft 20 whereupon the weight 52suspended from the end of the cable having: been relieved of anyresistance will drop and force the carriae e 4. 1 to return to its nut-uposition.

the rotary speed of the two shafts 15 and. 20

will be exactly the same and consequently,

the feed wheels 17 and 27 will ride over one another without anyappreciable amount of friction or wear. However, in time the grooves 69become worn and fail to properly grip the wire, so that it becomesnecessary to 'regrind the periphery of the wheels and to out new groovestherein. In doing' this the upper shaft 15 must be moved to a lowerlevel in order to bring the surfaces i of the two feeding wheelstogether. The contact point of the wheels having been lowered it isnecessary to likewise lower the mandrel, an operation carried out asfollows: Referring particularly to'Figures 2 and 3, it will benoted thatthe mandrel 70 is in its extreme uppermost position with'relation to thecontacting point of the wheels 17 and 27 and in order to lower the axisof the mandrel to a level equal to a possible change in the contactingpoint of the two wheels,

the set screw 80 is loosened and theknurled flange 77 rotated. Thisoperation will move the bore-7 la-nd cylindrical portion of the bushingso that the axis of the post 72 may be on the same plane as thecontacting point of the feeding wheels- 17 and 27. The

set screw may then be tightened against the split bushing and the lattercontracted to grip the post 72. If considerable lowering of the mandrelhas been necessary the latter will need to be moved towards or away fromthe vertical centers of the wheels 17 and 27, which movement ismadenecessary, due to the lowering adjustment ofthe .mandr'el' havingbeen made in an arcuate line.

Having thus described the inv'ention,what we claim asnew and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent is o 1 In a wire bending device, thecombination with the feed rollers and clutch therefor, of stop mechanismcomprising a'longi tudially movable carriage provided with an adjustablestop rod disposed axially thereof, and a trip mechanism in the path ofsaid rod and adaptedto actuate said clutch;

2. In a wire bending device, as claimed in claim 1, including), aloosely mounted vertically adjustable bar supporting. said carriage, andmeans operated by said trip mechanism for releasing the said carriage topermit of the latter being returned to its initial position,substantially as described. f 3. In a wire bending device, as claimed inclaim 1, including a loosely mounted vertically adjustable barsupporting said carriage, the said adjustable stop bar carried by thecarriage comprising a threaded mem' ber movable through a projectingportion of the carriage, and in which the said trip mechanism includesan upright leverhaving a projecting'tooth, a rocker 'arnrhaving one I vend thereof adapted to engage under said .Due to the ratio of the gears16 and 19 the release of said clutch, substantially as' described. J II 1. In a device for bending wire'for the purposedescrlbed, thecombinationwith a pair of parallel rotary shafts, one of said shaftsbeing provided with a continuous thread aboutits periphery, of aslidably bar to drop the carriage away from the thread of said shaft.

In a device for bending wire for the purpose described, the combinationof a rotary shaft having a threaded portion intermediate the lengththereof, a continuously driven pulley loosely mounted on one end of saidshaft, clutch mechanism between said pulley and the threaded portionofsaid shaft, and a clutch operating mechanism.

including a carriage provided with a curved depressed portion having aseries of pitched grooves adapted to mesh with the threaded portion ofsaid shaft, a bar slidably supporting said carriage said carriage beingadapted to first move longitudinally ofthe bar and then with the latterand radially of said shaft to disengage the carriage from the threads ofsaid shaft.

6. In a wire bending device of ti e character described, the combinationof a rotary shaft having a threaded portion intermediate its length, aloosely mounted continuously rotating pulley at one end of said shaft,clutch mechanism carried by said shaft for imparting rotary movement tothe latter, a clutch operating mechanism including a carriage providedwith a depressed curved portion having a series of grooves thereinadapted to mesh with the threads of said shaft, a loosely mounted slidebar radially disposed below said shaft and adapted to support saidcarriage, an adjustable engaging member mounted .in said carriage andmeans operated by engagement with said adjustable member through thetravel of said carriage to a predetermined point for substantiallysimultaneously disengaging said clutch and moving said carriage awayfrom said shaft, whereby the former may be returned to its initialposition.

7. In a wire bending device of the char-- acter described, thecombination of a rotary shaft having a continuous thread cut spirallyabout a portion of its periphery, clutch mechanism operating on saidshaft to impart rotary movement to said shaft, a clutch operatingmechanism including a carriage provided with means for engaging thethread of said shaft, a bar supported at opposite ends in slottedmembers and capable of movement in a radial direction towards and awayfrom said shaft, said bar being adapted to support and guide saidcarriage longitudinally of the shaft, a second shaft parallel to saidfirst named shaft and below the supporting bar and having a clutchactuating member one end to. move said clutch into and out ofengagement, means carried by said second shaft to raise and lower saidbar by axial movement of the former, and a. trip mechanism comprisingrelatively movable arms adapted to co-act with each other subsequentlyto the carriage having reached a predetermined point in its travel andtripping one of said arms to move said means, whereby the bar and saidcarriage may move away from the threads of said shaft.

8. Ina wire bending device of the charact r described, the combinationwith clutch mechanism for imparting movement to said device, of clutchoperating mechanism for automatically controlling the release of saidclutch mechanism at set periods, and including a screw actuated carriageprovidedwith an adjustable contact member, a movable slide bar forsupporting and guiding said carria'ige in a longitudinal and verticaldirection and having depending members projecting from one edge thereof,a parallel axially movable shaft extending below said bar and having camsurfaces adapted to move in the path of said depending members, a clutchcontrol member carried by one end of said shaft and adapted to operatesaid clutch mechanism, a pivoted yoke for moving said shaft in onedirection to engage the clutch mechanism and having a projecting armprovided, with means for moving the yoke and the arm, and a trip leverhaving a projection adapted to receive the end of said arm to hold thelatter in set position. and an upstanding portion in the path ofmovement of said adjustable contact member, whereby the latter will tripthe lever at predetermined stage in the travel of the carriage torelease the yoke and permit the shaft to return to its initial positionfor the purpose of disengaging the clutch and removing the carriage fromfurther longitudinal travel.

9. In a wire bending device of the character described, the combinationwith a screw actuated carriage tripping device, with a loosely mountedslide bar for supporting, guiding and elevating said carriage, ofyieldable bar cooperating with supporting means to elevate the latter,and relatively movable levers co-acting with the carriage trippingdevice at a predetermined stage in its travel to permit said yieldablesupporting bar to return to its initial position. whereby said firstnamed means may be lowered to arrest further travel of said carriagedevice. 7

10. In a wire bending device of the char acter described, thecombination with a traveling carriage, of a screw for operating saidcarriage in one direction, a bar for slidably supporting and moving saidcarint iiage into and out ofengagement with said screw, and a gravityresetting mechanism for said carriage whereby the latter will return toits initial position subsequently to the operation of said bar to movethe carriage out of engagement with said screw.

11. In a wire bending device of the char-- acter described, thecombination with arotary wire feeding mechanism, with a mandrel forreceiving said wire subsequent to said mandrel,v and an eccentricbushing mounted in said ldevlce and adapted to receiv'e'one end of saidpost, whereby rotary movement of said bushing'willcause a'i'elativechange int-he elevation of said mandrel with respect to saidwire-feeding mechanism.

In testimony whereof we have afiixedcour signatures. V r

' GIACOMO" F MAGALLi. PAOLO CAR-DONE. CARMINE SURICO.

